Process for the production of polymers having reactive end groups

Abstract

An improved process for the production of polymers having halogen end groups from cationically polymerizable monomers, the monomer being polymerized in an inert solvent at a temperature of from +10° to -130° C. using a catalyst system consisting of a metal halide and an organic halide, compounds corresponding to the following general formula being used as organic halides: ##STR1## wherein X represents a halogen atom; R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , represent C 5 -C 10 cycloalkyl, or a C 1 -C 20 straight- or branched-chain alkyl or ##STR2## wherein R 4 and R 5 represent C 5 -C 10 -cycloalkyl or a C 1 -C 20 straight- or branched-chain alkyl; and the organic halide has at least 5 carbon atoms and at most 50 carbon atoms and is in a concentration of from 10 -1 to 10 -6 mols per mol of monomer, while BX 3 , SnX 4 , TiX 4 , SbX 5 or FeX 3 , wherein X is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, is used as metal halide in from 2 to 500 times molar excess, based on the organic halide.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for the production of polymers having halogen end groups from cationically-polymerisable monomers, the monomer being polymerised in an inert solvent at a temperature of from +10° to -130° C. using a catalyst system consisting of a metal halide and an organic halide, characterised in that the organic halide corresponds to the following general formula: ##STR8## wherein X represents a halogen atom; R 1 , R 2 , R 3  represents C 5  -C 10  cycloalkyl, or a C 1  -C 20  straight- or branched-chain alkyl or ##STR9## wherein R 4  and R 5  represent C 5  -C 10  cycloalkyl or a C 1  -C 20  straight- or branched-chain alkyl;   and that the organic halide has at least 5 carbon atoms and at most 50 carbon atoms and is in a concentration of from 10 -1  to 10 -6  mols per mol of monomer, and that BX 3 , SnX 4 , TiX 4 , SbX 5  or FeX 3 , wherein X denotes fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, is used as the metal halide in from 2 to 500 times molar excess, based on the organic halide.   
     
     
       2. A process according to claim 1, characterised in that isobutylene is used as monomer. 
     
     
       3. A process according to claim 1, characterised in that BCl 3 , SnCl 4 , TiCl 4 , SbCl 5  or FeCl 3  is used as metal halide. 
     
     
       4. A process according to claim 3, characterised in that BCl 3  is used as metal halide. 
     
     
       5. A process according to claim 1, characterised in that the process is carried out at a temperature of from -15° to -60° C.